Under My Nose

by gabby1017

Edward Cullen turns thirty in six months and wants to leave the dating scene to find his "Miss Right". Leaving his restaurant behind, he drives a carriage in the French Quarter of New Orleans searching for true love. Who is it? And will he know, when he finds her? Or will she be right under his nose?

18. Chapter 18

Under My Nose

Bella Swan needs a change in pace, a slower groove to enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer her. She moves from the Big Apple to the Big Easy, from subways to streetcars, from nouveau chic to historically quaint, from a large Manhattan apartment near Park Avenue to a shotgun house with her eccentric aunt, in Mid City and off Canal Street. She's ready for love, commitment and that happily ever after, but does she have the patience to wait out her heart's desire? It's frustrating to be right, 'under his nose'.

Chapter Eighteen:

BPOV: January 5

I chew my sandwich as I watch him sweat, and he eyes me cautiously. Then, my phone rings. Aunt Sally informs me that my dad is playing nice.

I hang up and stare at Edward.

Edward reaches over and covers my hand with his. "Bella, what's wrong?"

I sigh. "My dad decided to send some of my things, as well as my bike, in a huge trailer. So, right now, Aunt Sally's two front rooms are overflowing with my shit. And I can't leave my bike outside." I rub my temples. "Would you mind taking me to Aunt Sally's, if it's a problem, I can catch the streetcar."

"No, I'll take you," he insists.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

When we reach Aunt Sally's, we see my bike is in the small drive, close to the side of the house. There is a huge, blue tarp covering it with rope tied up and down and all around the tires and the sides, like a poorly wrapped package.

Edward looks at me in wonderment, and I sigh and say, "Aunt Sally." He nods.

We enter the house to find her surrounded by boxes. She sits on the sofa, glasses down her nose and a book in her lap with her bare feet upon a huge crate-like box, wearing a colorful moo moo and her hair piled high in a sloppy bun. "Hello." She says with a smile.

I can't answer her, as I look from the living room to her craft room, there is very little walking space.

Aunt Sally removes her glasses and stares at me. "JujuBee, are you all right?"

I barely mumble, "When you said Dad sent boxes, I thought they were a lot smaller."

She sighs. "Well, after I talked with him, he decided to send everything."

I look at her, scowling. "Everything? What did he say? Wait a minute, what did you say to him?"

"I told him a few days ago, about Edward," she nonchalantly says. She waves and smiles at him. We still stand by the door. Edward waves back at her.

"What did you tell him about Edward, Aunt Sally?" I think I screeched a little.

She clears her throat, plants her pedicured feet firmly on the floor and sits up straight. "I told him that he shouldn't expect you back, and that New Orleans is your home now, that you found your other half." She raises her hands. "Simple as that."

"Aunt Sally, why did you tell him? You know what will happen now," I shout. Yeah, not a screech, this time a shout!

She soothes, "Calm down. He's not going to tell her anything. He promised me. With your lease up, your apartment has been cleaned out and closed up," she announces. "He won't tell her or allow her near you."

I sputter, "But?"

She un-sputters, " No buts! Look, she calls me, and I call her. I act as though I haven't seen or heard from you. She believes me, because I'm very good at hiding things. But your dad isn't quite the pushover. He knew you would come to me." She addresses Edward, "Why don't you pop a squat?"

We both sit on the small love seat.

"So, what are your plans, kids?" she says coolly.

I have become silent as Edward tells Aunt Sally about his restaurant, being a chef, hiring me as the pastry chef, and continuing the carriage rides.

"Well, ain't that something else? You're both chefs." She smiles. "You fit perfectly. Richard and I felt that."

Edward smiles at her.

I remain silent.

"Well, since you both aren't denying it, then I can assume you both finally got it." She glares at me. "In shock, huh?"

I nod.

"Okay, it will be a little close in here, but we can manage." She rolls her eyes.

Right then, Edward speaks and flips me out, completely. "I think Bella should move in with me."

Aunt Sally and I say 'what?' at the same time; only Aunt Sally beams like a beacon.

I shake my head. "Edward…"

He interrupts me. "I have more than enough room for you and all your stuff. Your bike will be safe in the alcove with Jasper's and mine. I have a storage room for your boxes in the back of the restaurant, and, if you don't want to share my room … yet ... you can have the third bedroom."

Aunt Sally yelps, "Three bedrooms?"

Edward answers, "I have a converted apartment over the restaurant with over three-thousand square feet."

Aunt Sally repeats, "Three-thousand square feet, huh, and over the restaurant? So convenient. Richard has a huge truck you can use to move. What's the name of your restaurant?"

"Savoureux," he says proudly.

"Oh, my God, Richard and I have been there a few times, but I never saw you, Edward," she quips. "Glad you have a new pastry chef, but the rest of the meal was divine."

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. "I've had the place for three years and have gone through six pastry chefs."

I finally chime in and ask, "Why's that?"

"Wrong combinations; one never showed up on time; another wouldn't keep to the schedule, and another licked her fingers." He looks at me. "Don't ask." He grabs my hand. "I got a good feeling about my new one, though." He smiles that smile, and my heart flutters as his thumb runs up and down my hand.

Aunt Sally adds, "You bet your ass you do; that girl can bake, frost and sugar glaze anything. And she is fast, too." She watched Edward touch my hand and happily smiles. "I'm very glad you both found one another."

Edward kisses my hand, "Me, too."

Aunt Sally claps her hands together. "Okay, so what are we doing here?"

Edward smiles. "We're going to move my girl."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I stand with Edward on the porch, as Richard appears with his huge truck and Jasper with Emmett show up in an extended van. Edward and Jasper exchange hidden glances. They park in Betsy's parking lot across the street.

I cozy closer to Edward and whisper in his ear, "What was that all about?"

He's very coy with me. "What was what all about?"

"You and Jasper, and that little look you gave each other." I snip.

Jasper walks up the stairs and greets me with a short hug, "He's afraid I will tell you he rented this van to move your stuff to his place."

Edward moans, "Thanks for not telling."

Jasper smiles, "No problem."

I slightly slap Edward's arm. "How did you arrange for this, you have been with me the whole time?"

Edward smiles. "I texted Jasper, and Emmett has a friend."

Emmett comes up the walkway. "I have many friends." He smiles broadly and wraps me in a bear hug. "Hey, Bella."

I pat him on the shoulders. "Hey, Emmett."

Following Emmett, Richard gives me a hug and then kisses the top of my head. "Hi Sweetie, ready to move?"

Aunt Sally opens the door. "Do you guys want a snack before or after you move everything? Bella tried her hand at Gumbo, and I have some freshly baked French bread."

Emmett and Edward both say 'Gumbo'?

"I made that three days ago," I quip.

Aunt Sally boasts, "I froze it. Believe me, Gumbo taste better reheated."

Jasper croons, "I'll say."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Everyone sits at the table with their heads lowered in bowls of Gumbo.

Jasper pushes away from the table first. "Man, I'm stuffed. That was some fire of a Gumbo, Bella!"

With full mouth, Emmett moans to Edward, "You should add this to your menu, Bro." He shovels another huge bite into his mouth.

Edward clears his throat and wipes his mouth with his napkin. "We only create French, Em."

Emmett shakes his head. "La-de-da, this beats anything French."

I look at Emmett and smile. "It's not the typical New Orleans Gumbo. I got the recipe off the Internet. I thought I would try it."

"You never made this before?" he asks.

"Well, no." I shyly turn red. "And I know the original recipe doesn't have tomato sauce, but this just looked so good."

Emmett laughs. "Well, you're a natural. This almost beats our mama's seafood gumbo, and I'm sure she will love sharing a kitchen with you."

Edward chuckles, "Let her share one with me first." He blushes and clears his throat. "Well, ours." He gives me a shy smile.

Aunt Sally beams in full glow, but averts the tension in the room and offers, "Would you like another bowl, Emmett, there is plenty? Richard?"

Richard waves his hand. "Oh, after two full bowls, I'm good, Darlin'."

Emmett happily grabs his bowl. "Don't mind if I do." He gets up and follows Aunt Sally into the kitchen. I can hear them whispering to one another.

Richard stands. "I'm going to back my truck into the drive, so we can start loading up. Ah Bella, would you like me to …" he whispers "... unwrap your bike?"

"Oh, would you, Richard? I don't know what she was trying to do." I giggle. "But I will ride it, instead of loading it onto the truck."

Jasper gets up. "While Richard gets his truck, I'll start the unwrapping."

"Thanks, Jasper."

"No problem, Bella. Oh, and Alice asked me to let her know when we are on the way, so she can clear out the entryway." He walks down the hallway, after Richard.

Edward leans in towards me, stares into my eyes and lightly kisses my lips. "I don't want you to feel I'm rushing you. It's just a feasible solution all the way around."

I smile. "What better way to get to know one another than to live together?"

"Do you want to share my room?" Edward hesitantly asks.

I smooth my hands over his, running my fingers through his; slowly, barely touching his skin. "I want to get to know you, but I want us to do this right."

He places his finger on my lips to hush me. "It's okay, Bella." He kisses me, and we get lost in one another.

Emmett walks into the room, sits at the table with his Gumbo and eats. We pull apart, and he looks up at us. "Man, that shower's going to get overtime with you two." He laughs. "I give you two, three days tops, before you're all over one another. A man and woman can't live under the same roof without the nooky; it's unnatural."

Aunt Sally leans on the doorframe at the kitchen. "He's not wrong."

"C'mon, you two have some faith in us." I beg.

Aunt Sally giggles. "Oh JujuBee, this has nothing to do with faith. It's all in the chemistry. You're being cautious, and Edward is going along with this cockamamie insanity. The best way a man and a woman can get to know one another is to be naked, and I'm not talking clothes less. Be raw with each other. Let what comes natural happen. Don't put any restrictions or limitations out there."

Emmett looks up from his bowl. "She's right."

Edward growls, "And what makes you think you know anything about relationships?"

Emmett points his spoon at Edward. "I know that I don't want one. I know what people expect from one another. I know it's not in me, but it's in the both of you. So stop fighting it." He looks at Aunt Sally. "They're not going to listen."

She huffs, "Then, they'll find out the hard way." She bats her eyes.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Edward impresses me further with his organizational skills. From the size and weight of the boxes, he calculates what will fit in both the truck and van and we have to make only one trip to his apartment.

Aunt Sally and I pack my clothing back into my suitcases, then she gives me that stare.

I stare back at her. "What?"

"You're not making a mistake." She stands firmly.

"I don't think so either, but are you trying to jinx me, Old Woman?" I taunt her.

She shakes her head. "He's going to take care of you, JujuBee, I can see it in his eyes. Yes, he's a little clueless, and you will want to strangle him, but just remember, he's a new soul and you have to guide him."

I stand firm. "I dont need to be taken care of, Aunt Sally."

She hugs me, and I wrap my arms around her. "Oh, baby girl, we all need that special shoulder. Please, don't get all feminist on him." She grabs onto my shoulders and looks me in the eyes. "A man needs to protect his woman, his property." I begin to protest. "No, don't. A smart woman keeps her man by allowing him to feel he is in charge. He won't be, JujuBee, but your ego doesn't need to be fed, his does. So, feed him. Okay?"

I quip, "I guess you would know after four marriages and endless lovers."

"Don't get sassy with me." She smiles. "But Richard is good for me. His mother likes me, and that's a first."

"That's because you are both alike." I giggle.

She shrugs and makes a face, but gets serious. "From what Emmett says, his mother is going to love you." She gives me that satisfied glare.

I bite the inside of my cheek and blow out a sigh. "Time will tell."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I ride my bike to Edward's place. It's nice to be alone with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. Traffic is light, and I take my time, but I'm there within fifteen minutes. I drive into the parking lot to find Edward by the back door, waiting for me.

With the door open, I slowly, but carefully maneuver my bike into the alcove. Edward follows behind me and wraps his arms around me, as I hop off.

"I missed you," he whispers into my ear.

I smile and remember Aunt Sally's words. "I missed you, too."

He takes my hand and leads me up the stairway. "I put all your suitcases in the third bedroom, and Alice set your makeup case in your ensuite, the boxes fit comfortably in the storage room, but there was one smaller box I kept out for you."

We enter the apartment, and I see that Edward has two large goblets of wine sitting on the coffee table, a tray of different cheese, fruits and bread. "You're always trying to feed me," I kid.

He pulls me next to him on the sofa. "I'm always hungry around you."

And I recall Aunt Sally's last words to me. "All the better to feed you!" I grab for a piece of cheese and pop it in his mouth.

He smiles and returns the favor. "I love brie melted over apples with a raspberry sauce." He slowly places the bite into my mouth. The taste is sweet and salty, and warm around my lips. I chew, savoring the flavors.

"This is delicious, Edward." I hum.

He hands me a goblet, and I take a sip. Then, he hands me the small box that's marked 'personal'.

I look at it. "I've never seen this before."

"Didn't Aunt Sally say your dad packed everything for you?" Edward points out.

"Yeah, but he wouldn't write 'personal' on anything." I hand Edward my goblet, place the box on my lap and proceed to open it. We look through it, and we find a multitude of pictures of me, from my birth to my teen years to my graduation from culinary school. "This is definitely Aunt Sally's." We both laugh at my hairstyles and clothing, but he always says, 'I'm beautiful'.

At the bottom of the box, I find a manilla folder with papers, legal papers that read, 'Adoption'.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Okay, Bella's all moved in. Edward feeds her a little wine, cheese and adoption. Hang in there with me. This cliffie is a good one!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A/N: Thank you to my Beta, Sunflower Fran. I appreciate her time, her proper grammar and quick pen. Another great find by PAD!

To Robseve and Postapocalypticdepository (PAD), my pre-readers that give their unselfish time and creative input. Both of these ladies are inspirations and true friends.

Now, let me rec Postapocalypticdepository stories, since she so graciously rec'd mine.

Never Judge by the Cover: 9056924

Boys Will Be: 8868006

Rude Awakenings: 8876785

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Year: 8862243 (complete)

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

And thank you to all the readers, whether you review or not. I enjoy every comment and suggestion. Yes, NOLA (New Orleans, LA) is an exciting place to live. And to combine the old world with the new is a challenge, but the humor is quite a serious business. My objective is for all of you to smile, after each chapter.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Recipes:

Seafood Gumbo

½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon ground white pepper

½ ground black pepper

1 ½ teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon dried thyme

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 bay leaf, crushed

1 teaspoon salt

¾ cup oil

2 cups chopped celery

2 cups chopped onion

2 cups chopped green pepper

1 teaspoon minced garlic

3 teaspoons Gumbo file powder

2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce

1 ½ cups tomato sauce

7 cups fish stock

2 cups shucked oysters

1 cup crabmeat

1 pound small shrimp, cleaned

Combine the red, white and black peppers, thyme, oregano, bay leaf and salt together in a bowl, set aside.

In a huge, heavy pot, heat oil on medium heat, warming pot first. Add onions and green pepper. Turn heat to high, stirring frequently. Now, add garlic, Gumbo file, hot sauce and the pepper-herb combo. Cook five minutes with a constant stir.

Add tomato sauce, and stir as it reduces over the high heat. Add fish stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally.

When ready to serve, add crabmeat, oysters and shrimp. Cover for five minutes, and let it stand for ten minutes. Serve.

French Bread

3 - 3 ½ cups flour (or bread flour)

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 package of yeast (or 2 ¼ teaspoon)

1 cup very warm water

2 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon cold water

poppy or sesame seeds

In large bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast. Add warm water and oil. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle (dough will be soft).

On lightly floured surface, knead dough about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Grease large bowl (oil). Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover and let rise in warm place 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours or until dough has doubled in size.

Grease large cookie sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal. Roll out 2 loaves and place on cookie sheet.

Cut 1/4-inch-deep slashes across tops of loaves. Brush loaves with cold water. Let rise uncovered in warm place about 1 hour..

Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix egg white and 1 tablespoon cold water; brush over loaves. Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seed. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool.

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